I work hard all week. I can't wait for the weekend to arrive. When it finally arrives, what do I do? Usually sit around and watch TV. I need to get a new hobby or activity of some kind to get me out of the house. I did manage to straighten up the garage a little bit and did a few "tweeks" with my hi-fi stereo, but other than that, I think I'd have more fun watching paint dry. I can't wait to go back to work on Monday. At least that's something to look forward to. I've just completed my 11th month at my new job. Well, actually, it's not really new anymore. I work as a Purchasing Agent and Inventory Control Clerk. My day consists of "the obvious" as described above. I'm constantly on the phone talking with vendors; checking on previously ordered materials, when it's going to ship, etc. Then when the material arrives, I receive it into inventory and wait for the maintenance people to come and get what they need. Then I go get it and do the necessary paperwork that leads to doing other things; computer entry and retreival of all the necessary documentation, put it all together, then forward it to Accounting, so they can pay the invoices for the materials received. Then comes the filing. Then, it may or may not start the process all over again, depending on the amount of inventory against such removed material from inventory. It's a vicious cycle!!! It never stops!!! It is one thing... steady, no chance for lay-offs, pays not that bad, good fringe benefits, excellent retirement package, good medical insurance, free life insurance and plenty of good people to work with. The people I work for take care of all the maintenance concerns in our building. Their are approximately 8,000 people in our building. It requires all the departments efforts, along with maintenance personnel to keep everyone in our building happy.
After typing in all of that (and going back and proof reading it), I'm wondering why I even bother taking off for the weekend. I look forward to my weekends so much. HA, HA!

PRAISE TO GOD THIS DAY, JANUARY 18, 2006 AND EVERY OTHER DAY THAT I HAVE SEEN AND HAVE YET TO SEE. A YOUNG MAN THAT HAS BEEN IN MY PRAYERS FOR OVER A YEAR, HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE TUMOR THAT WAS IN HIS BRAIN. EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR PRAYER CIRCLE THE LAST YEAR SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT RELIEVED THAT THIS DAY HAS FINALLY COME. WAS THERE ANY DOUBT THAT GOD WOULD TAKE THIS YOUNG MAN AWAY FROM US AT SUCH AT EARLY AGE? YES, HE COULD HAVE. I SEE THAT GOD HAS FORSEEN GREAT THINGS IN THIS YOUNG MAN'S FUTURE AND DECIDED TO LET HIM LIVE. PRAISE GOD! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO FATHOM THAT GOD COULD SOMEHOW ANSWER MY PRAYERS. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO CHURCH IN NEARLY FOUR YEARS. THE OLD SLANG TERM "BACK-SLIDER" IS I GUESS WHAT YOU COULD CALL ME. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'VE EVER COMPLETELY LOST TOUCH WITH GOD, IT'S MORE LIKE I'VE BEEN ON A SABBATICAL FROM HIM. GOD WILL ALWAYS BE A BIG PART OF MY LIFE. I BELIEVE YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH TO BE CLOSE TO GOD. I BELIEVE EVERYONE OF US HAS THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP AS WE CHOOSE. THIS DOESN'T MEAN I WILL NOT EVER GO TO CHURCH AGAIN, IT JUST MEANS THAT RIGHT NOW I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE.
FOUR YEARS AGO, I LOST MY MOTHER TO CANCER. I FELT THAT GOD TOOK SOMETHING PRECIOUS AWAY FROM ME AND MY FAMILY. MY MOTHER WAS AS CLOSE TO A SAINT AS ANYONE I'VE EVER KNOWN. WHY DID HE TAKE HER? I WILL ONE DAY GET A CHANCE TO STAND BEFORE GOD AND HE WILL TELL ME WHY.
AS I FINISH WITH THIS WRITING, I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS; ONLY GOD KNOWS WHY THINGS HAPPEN, IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO HIM. I JUST HOPE THAT GOD WILL FORGIVE ME FOR ALL THE YEARS I'VE STAYED AWAY FROM HIM. THE YEARS I'VE WASTED NOT SERVING HIM IN THE CAPACITY I SHOULD HAVE. GOD BLESS ANYONE THAT READS THIS TODAY.

Life got a little more interesting today. About a week ago, I sent our local CBS TV affiliate a picture of our dog Chelsea. They have a pet of the week contest. Chelsea was voted as #3 finalist. The votes are still coming in. If you're interested in their website, it is www.wishtv.com. Please help Chelsea win pet of the week. Please cast your vote for her. Your votes will be appreciated.
About 8 years ago we adopted Chelsea from someone that was a customer at the bank where my wife worked. Chelsea had not been taken care of very well. We think she may have been beaten. Chelsea has been with us for the last 8 years and we wouldn't take a million dollars for her. She is a very special dog. If you've never had the opportunity to adopt an animal, consider it. The rewards you receive from them will last you a lifetime.

Sad day in Indy, to say the least. What should have been a day to anxiously await next weekends AFC Championship with Denver, it is a day to start preparing for next season. Our season was abruptly stopped by a tenacious bunch commonly called the "Stealers"! That's actually what they did. They stole our season. But did so deservingly.
The Pittsburgh Steelers came into Indy the underdog and left Indy with big smiles on their faces. I whole heartedly applaud this Steeler team. They kicked out behinds. Although, I never thought the most successful field goal kicker in NFL history would miss an attempt the way he did (badly) to the right. Vandergat could kick this field goal 99 out of 100 times blindfolded. I agree, most convincingly that a game should not be won or lost or tied by a field goal as time expires. If your offense or defense can't win a ball game for you, you shouldn't have to put all the burden onto the kickers.
I think it would make the game a lot more interesting if they would do away with the (kick) PAT. I think after a touchdown you should have to go for two all the time. Take the field goal kicking out of the game entirely. Use the kicking only after a touchdown has been made to kick off to the other team for their turn at a possesion. Think of it this way; Would you rather see a game with some TD's or a game won 12-9? A game that produced 7 field goals? I have seen those games and they are not pretty. Where both teams tore up the middle of the field trying desperately to win the football game.
Getting back to my hometown- Indy. Let's not make more than what it is out of this loss yesterday to PITT. It is just a game... the players are entertainers... Sure, it's nice to win and move on towards the Super Bowl, but stop and think about what you saw when you arose out of bed this morning. The sun still came up. Life moves on. Remember... There's always next year.